Untitled Document

BOARD OF ASSOCIATED CHARITIES.

The Board of Associated Charities is one of the noble and benevolent institutions in this city. From its first annual report the following is taken :

"The association may be called an outgrowth of our Thanksgiving distribution of 1883, when, in accordance with a recent custom among us, the Churches and various charitable societies contributed clothing, provisions and money, to be distributed among the worthy poor of the city, under the direction of a committee appointed by the different Churches. After the distribution of the Thanksgiving offerings of 1883, it was found that the fund had been unwisely distributed; that the committee depending on hearsay as to the need of the different families, and without time to properly investigate the cases reported, had in some instances given assistance where it had been better withheld, and that with the best intention on the part of the committee, others, more deserving, had been passed by.

The committee were convinced that a more thorough in vestigation should accompany relief, and that the truest and best charity is to help people to become self-supporting, and that every exertion must be used to this end before bestowing gifts of clothing, provisions or money. A public meeting was called, and with these ideas as a basis, the Associated Charities was organized, with a plan of work similar to or identical with that found to be most efficient in the larger cities where it had been tried, and is, we believe, the first charitable society in our State organized on this plan of relief.

At this meeting the following Board of Directors was chosen, and at a subsequent meeting of the directors the following officers were elected: L. E. Fish, President; H. W. Hyde, Secretary; Mrs. C. W. Heald, Treasurer; Mrs. Julia M. Dunn, Corresponding Secretary; Mrs. H. B. McKeever, Conrad F. Grantz, Charles H. Boman, H. Kohler.

Immediately after organization, a soliciting committee was appointed to collect funds and solicit membership, and the society was soon in working order. At the outset the association had many difficulties to encounter; they were without practical knowledge, inexperienced as to methods, with themselves to educate, and, in short, everything to learn that pertained to the work itself. The Associated Charities is non-sectarian and nonpartisan ; it has no creed, save to do good ; its field is as broad as humanity itself, and Jew, Christian or atheist is alike welcome to dispense or receive its aid. Its chief aim is to establish friendly intercourse with the poor."

During its first year, 42 families received aid, and employment was found for 170 persons. Persons who had been dependent on the county for years were placed in a position to be self-supporting, and much good was otherwise done. The receipts were $709.35, with expenditures of $360.24.

At the annual election, held Dec. 21, 1884, the following named officers were elected: Conrad F. Grantz, President; L. E. Fish, Secretary and Man ager; John N. Mason, Treasurer; Mrs. Julia M. Dunn, Corresponding Secretary; Peter Lind, Mrs. C. W. Heald, Mrs. H. B. McKeever.

Portrait and Biographical Album of Rock Island Co.

Illinois Ancestors

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